Cassius' Words in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

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Cassius' Words in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

In William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, the importance of Cassius and Brutus' dialogues in Act 1, Scene 2, lines 135-78 to the play is that it enables Cassius to deceive Brutus to join the conspirators. Cassius' words in this passage show that he is a very cunning individual who persuades Brutus to join the conspirators to rid Rome of his so-called " tyranny."

Cassius' words expose his hypocritical nature during his conversation with Brutus. At one point, during the ceremony to offer Caesar the crown after his victory in battle, Brutus remarks, "I do fear the people choose Caesar for their king" (79). Cassius seizes that opportunity and convinces Brutus to join the conspirators. He claims Caesar was a tyrant: "He doth bestride the narrow world / like a Colossus and we petty men / walk under his huge legs and peep about / to find ourselves dishonorable graves" (135-38).

Not only does Cassius use Brutus' fears to influence him to join the conspirators, but also in line 162, Cassius hovers and p...

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